The Navy is a pioneer in the entry of women into military careers in the Brazilian armed forces
By Agência Marinha de Notícias – On board the NAM “Atlântico”
Thirteen sailors, from the first female class of the Brazilian Navy’s (MB) Armed Forces Corps, are part of the crew of the Fleet’s flagship, the Multipurpose Aerodrome Ship (NAM) “Atlântico”. When they stepped onto the ship’s gangplank at the beginning of the year, they were already faced with a new challenge: sailing for more than 20 days on the high seas, along the Brazilian coast, for Operation “Aspirantex” 2024.
They entered the Santa Catarina Seamen’s Apprenticeship School (EAMSC) in January 2023, along with the male candidates, and took the Active Seaman Training Course (C-FMN) for 11 months, under a boarding school regime, from Monday to Friday. During this period, they acquired military-naval training and began their qualification in one of the areas they chose when they enrolled: support, mechanics and electronics. In the overall and final ranking of the course, Seaman Larissa Pacheco Afonso de Almeida came first and deservedly chose to serve on the NAM “Atlântico”, as it is the largest ship in Latin America.
Larissa revealed that she had dreamed of being in the military ever since she was a little girl: “I was always very disciplined, I respected my elders, I gave ‘order’ to my younger brothers,” she says. Without knowing it, she already carried within her some of the characteristics of a good sailor. Her parents supported her and enrolled her in a preparatory course, where she won a scholarship with a 95% discount.
“I studied at a public school and learned a lot at the course. When they announced that there would be a vacancy for women, I was ready,” she says. Despite her confidence, Sailor Larissa only believed she would be approved after her name was published in the Official Gazette. For the second time, the sailor spirit was with her: the courage to leave her parents’ house and hometown, Sepetiba (RJ), and move to Santa Catarina. “In one year, I only saw my family twice. That was the biggest difficulty I had to face and overcome. The platoon was my base on the course. I built real friendships that I’ll carry with me for life. Longing brought us together and we became one big naval family,” he recalls.
The routine at EAMSC wasn’t easy. The day started at 5am and didn’t end until 10pm. Asked if she was treated differently because she was female, Larissa explained that all female apprentice candidates received the same treatment as the men. “Every year there will be more women in the Force, with an increase in the possibility of entering various careers. It’s interesting to see and take part in this transformation. This is the future,” she believes.
Of the 48 women who passed the competition, 45 successfully completed the training course. As Sailors, they are obliged to embark on MB ships for one year, in order to carry out maintenance and operation of equipment and systems, the conservation of compartments and general and specific on-board services. On the NAM “Atlântico”, they are distributed in the administration, health, operations, food, aviation and armaments sectors, among others.
On board, the 13 newly embarked soldiers feel at home. “As soon as we arrived, we knew we were going on Operation ‘Aspirantex’. We embraced the work and this made it easier for us to integrate with the crew. We were very well received,” said Larissa. For them, everything is still very new and they learn a little more every day.
After visiting the “Atlântico”‘s Combat Operations Center, where data is collected from all the ship’s sensors that are essential for making timely command and control decisions, Seaman Larissa is convinced that she wants to work there. She also expressed her desire to remain part of the ship’s crew after a year of compulsory boarding.
“I broke barriers, being in the first mixed class of sailors in Brazil and the first to be placed on the training course. I hope that my story will encourage other women to believe in and conquer their dreams,” Larissa concludes.
Source: Agência Marinha de Notícias *** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***